It's inauguration day

B. David Rowe

So today is the day that B. David Rowe will be ceremonially installed as president of Centenary College at the Gold Dome. 

Here are the details that I know so far. The event will start with a formal academic procession. This process will start with faculty, then administrators and then officials and delegates from other colleges and universities and other visiting dignitaries. 

Expect them to be dressed up in full regalia--caps, gowns, tassels, the works. 

Board of Trustees Chairman  Ed Crawford III will read the presidential proclamation. This is a piece of paper that publicly announces Rowe as president. As some colleges I've covered, it's the actual paper board members or trustees signed when the person was hired. 

Then, William G. Anderson, former Chairman of the Board of Trustees, will bestow on Rowe the Presidential medallion. Some other colleges use a staff. This is symbolic of the president's leadership.  After that Rowe will give his inaugural address.

The address is sure to be different from his convocation address, which was hopeful and inspiring. Rowe is a good auditor and with the college going through some financial strain, it will be interesting to see how he address this and still keep it an inspiring speech.

Talking about money, the ceremony is underwritten but several local businesses. Events surrounding the inauguration have been limited to one day. Usually, it's a weeks worth of them, one after the other.

I'll try to take some pictures and post them on my twitter feed later on today.

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